The Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes collaborates with more than 80 countries to ensure growth opportunities from trade and investment, to improve development prospects, and to enable their more effective participation in the global economy. The Division provides timely, targeted research and analysis, as well as innovative policy recommendations regarding development, trade and investment.

Through its analysis of African economic issues, UNCTAD aims to increase awareness of some of the most critical development problems of the continent, and to promote action at national, regional and international levels to support African development efforts with a view to enhancing the participation of African countries in the world economy.

News

Trade liberalization has reinforced the extractive character of the Angolan economy, but has not altered the employment profile of female workers. For the time being, women are still largely found in low-productivity and low-income activities, an UNCTAD study has found.

UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi has called for renewed efforts to boost intraregional trade in Africa, commenting that it could help in bringing peace to the continent, at a forum held to mark the 50th anniversary of the African Union.​

At the request of Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce, UNCTAD has held a sensitization workshop on issues related to the question of Cambodia's graduation from the United Nations category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs).